Two-story houses and houses with an attic are popular. Heating schemes for such houses were developed by specialists a long time ago, tested many times, their main points migrate from project to project.
Guided by the project, heating in two-story house not difficult to create. But what to do if there is no project?
Heating two-story house so simple that “craftsmen” do it, literally designing it “on the fly.” Using standard schemes, techniques, methods that allow you to create proper heating.
There are no special obstacles to heating a two-story house with your own hands. Or manage the work of “other people’s hands” yourself. All the heating installation work performed is not complicated.
First of all, it is important to prevent cardinal “blunders and lapses”. Then the system in a two-story house will work correctly and stably. What is the first thing you need to consider...
What should not be done when installing heating in a two-story house
First of all, you should be guided by modern ideas.
- Heating circuits should be conventional two-pipe.
Sequential, Single-pipe, Samotechnaya, “all kinds of Leningradka” - they fly into the trash bin. All this archaism has very significant drawbacks, first of all, it will require more money to create, and at the same time it will not work normally. - You should not trust the “radiator dealers” who try to complicate things, talk about problems and draw intricate diagrams and patterns. Everything about heating is very simple. As a rule, a hydraulic gun is not needed.
The wiring will be simplest if you have the usual set for a two-story house - one boiler (including one backup), and 3 consumers - an indirect heating boiler, heated floors, a radiator system.
Boiler placement and boiler room equipment
The gas boiler is installed in accordance with the gasification project. Solid fuel - to conveniently remove a high chimney. In any case, the equipment is noisy. It is placed in a separate room - the furnace room.
The gas boiler is automated and can also control an indirect heating boiler.
The usual diagram of connections to an automated gas boiler has 4 outlets (there can be 3 outlets or 2 outlets - you must use the manufacturer’s diagrams).
Connection diagram to a floor-standing gas boiler with an external pump
A solid fuel boiler requires the installation of a pump, a safety group, and a mixing unit. All this forms a harness solid fuel boiler —
What pump and pipe diameters are needed?
A common question when creating heating in a house (including a two-story house) on your own is what kind of circulation pump you will need for the radiator system. The choice is simple - either a 25-40 (0.4 atm.) pump or a 25-60 (0.6 atm.) pump.
For an area heated by radiators up to 170 sq. m. 25-40 is good. If the area is between 170 - 260 sq. m. - 25-60. If more than 260 m - 25-80. You should not take a pump with a reserve, this only leads to unjustified overspending and can lead to noise in the heating system.
Automated boilers are equipped with a built-in pump
Pipeline diameters (internal) for a private house are indicated in the diagram.
From the boiler to the first branch - 25 mm. In branches on the floor - 20 mm, separate connections, radiators (up to 2 pcs.) - 16 mm.
Foamed propylene is characterized by its outer diameter, taking into account the wall thickness, - 32, 25, 20 (mm).
Generalized heating diagram for a two-story house
Within one floor wiring diagram heating pipeline Any one can be chosen:
- dead-end, two arms with up to 5 radiators in each,
- associated, usually when the number of radiators is more than 10 pcs.,
- radial, at the whim of the creator (customer), if it is impossible to lay pipes along the walls, but it is possible to lay them under the floor...
The example diagram shows 3 floors and two-pipe heating schemes:
- 1st floor - dead end,
— 2nd floor — passing;
- 3rd floor - radial.
Balancing the system
It is important to install balancing valves:
- on the return of the second floor to adjust it relative to the first (the second floor, as a rule, requires less energy);
- on each arm of the dead-end circuit;
- on each branch of the beam (collector) circuit;
- on each radiator on the return (on the supply - a thermal head with an automated boiler or a shut-off valve).
Also, all equipment is connected through ball valves (or balancing) to allow dismantling.
Air removal, drainage, slopes
When creating heating in a two-story house, it is important to make the required pipe slopes.
An air vent is installed at the highest point of each riser (the riser is also an excellent separator - a collector of air bubbles).
Also, all radiators that are installed horizontally or with a slight elevation to the Mayevsky valve are equipped with air vents (Mayevsky taps) (a reverse slope is not allowed).
At the lowest point of the entire pipe system, on the return line of the boiler, there is a drain valve and the possibility of releasing water into the sewer or a container in the basement...
The slopes of all pipes are made towards the riser and can be minimal.
The last radiator in the dead-end circuit is higher than the others. In a circular passing scheme, the highest point in the ring is chosen arbitrarily - a decrease (drain) to the riser.
Reverse slopes and U-shaped bypasses, for example, for a door, etc., are unacceptable. If problems arise with ensuring one slope due to obstacles or room configurations, then, as a rule, a different radiator connection scheme is chosen.
Type of piping and radiators
It is known that the pressure in individual heating house or apartment does not exceed 4 atm. (safety valve operates at 3.5 atm.).
Liquid, mainly water, in a volume of 50-150 liters is poured into the heating system once, which minimizes the presence of debris and salts. As a rule, for a two-story private house the best choice in terms of price and quality are aluminum sectional radiators.
The photo shows the connection of an aluminum radiator with a polypropylene pipeline with the installation of throttle valves in a dead-end wiring diagram.
Their characteristics are sufficient for long-term trouble-free operation in these conditions. But it is also possible to install steel panels.
The so-called programs for calculating heat loss at home, calculators, cannot be more accurate than approximate calculations of heat loss by area of the house.
The fact is that the consumer cannot accurately specify the data - how much energy goes out with ventilation (the main heat loss) and how much comes with sunlight through the windows (a very significant influx), etc. He cannot accurately indicate the characteristics of the layers in the structures. Therefore, all “heat calculators” are unsuitable for accurate objective calculations.
But special precision is not required when selecting the power of radiators. So for low-temperature heating (recommended), you need to take the number of sections with a large plus margin.
Heating pipes
Many craftsmen recommend polypropylene pipes for heating, including for a two-story house. But installation companies that value their reputation will not take on polypropylene. The reason is the lack of ability to control the quality of the joints, as well as to make this joint according to the standard. What will be the cross-section at the end of the pipe, how many saggings will there be inside, when the welding site begins to leak... - it’s all up to the will of the installer’s trembling hand...
A pipeline made of metal-plastic, for example, is supplied with a guarantee. The pipes themselves are thinner, the connections and configurations are smooth and aesthetic.
Whether it is worth taking on metal-plastic, putting aside cheap polypropylene, customers decide, in accordance with their vision of the future and measuring the thickness of the bag of money.
DIY installation
If you really don’t know how to “hold a hammer in your hands,” then you shouldn’t take on the task of creating heating for a two-story house with your own hands. You will have to perform the following processes:
- set the level of location of radiators, pipelines, find attachment points;
- drill many holes, incl. and large diameter pipes;
- connect threaded connections with winding flax tow with lubricant,
- mark the position of fittings, cut pipes to length, join (weld) pipelines
- carry out concrete and plastering work.
- design, draw wiring diagrams, calculate...
To ensure warmth and comfort in a two-story house, you need to correctly determine the heating scheme for a two-story house. The heating system is the most important engineering life support system of any home. Its purpose is to compensate for heat loss and create a certain temperature regime, which is needed primarily for people living in the house, but one should not underestimate the fact that efficient system heating is designed to ensure, among other things, the stability and durability of building structures.
It is better to entrust the calculation and design to heating engineers who will assess heat loss, give recommendations for insulating the house, and also make a detailed calculation, which will avoid unnecessary expenses on expensive equipment. But the choice of heating scheme for a two-story house can be made by the customer himself, based on many years of operating experience.
Heating classification
Types of thermal energy sources - heat generators
Before choosing a particular heating scheme, it is useful to find out already existing species and which one is suitable for the specific task being solved. It is known that the main source of heat is various types of heat generators, which can be:
- Stoves and fireplaces. This type of heating was once the main one, but is now used less and less due to the high cost of fuel (wood and coal) and the inability to effectively control the temperature in the house. In some regions where there is no gas supply, this type of heating is the only choice.
- Various types of heating boilers, which can be: gas, solid fuel, liquid fuel, electric, depending on the availability of access to various energy sources and their cost.
- Alternative energy sources. This category includes: geothermal energy, obtained, as well as solar energy, which is converted into thermal solar collectors. This type of heating is in a stage of rapid development and is still used quite rarely in our country due to high prices for equipment.
Future perspective - energy-independent houses - Infrared heating. The heat sources are special infrared emitters, which are used in most cases electrical energy. Thermal energy with such heating it is delivered directly to the “addressee” by radiation. For heating large rooms or rooms with low frequency of people entering them infrared heating would be a great choice.
In some situations, it will be wise to combine different types of heat generators for heating. For example, if there is country house, where the family comes only on weekends. In this case, it would be reasonable to have a gas boiler for the main heating and an electric one to prevent the water in the system from freezing in winter and maintain a minimum permissible temperature in the house.
Types of coolants
Any heating system must transfer the heat concentrated in the heat generator to the heating device that heats a specific room. This is done using a coolant, which can be:
- The air that is used for heating by stoves, fireplaces, as well as various electric heaters. Due to the fact that air has a low density, heat capacity and heat transfer coefficient, it is much inferior to liquid coolants.
- Water is an almost ideal coolant due to the fact that it has high heat capacity, density, heat transfer coefficient, and chemical inertness. Water heated by the heating boiler is transported to heating appliances using a pipeline system.
In most modern heating systems, water or various antifreezes, which are aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or their combinations, are used as a coolant. Such a property as resistance to non-freezing at low temperatures can be useful in heating systems of such houses where people are not planned to live permanently. winter time. In those houses where heating will work all winter, the use of antifreeze is not economically feasible.
Various antifreezes do not “get along” well with aluminum radiators, some seals and pipes. In addition, coolants containing ethylene glycol are poisonous. Therefore, such compositions should be used only in cases where you simply cannot do without them.
Types of heating devices
Heating appliances can be divided into two main classes:
- Radiators - translated from Latin they are translated as “emitter”, that is, a device that transmits heat in the form of infrared thermal radiation. However, modern radiators are not purely radiators, but also transfer part of the heat in the form of convection, but they have retained their name.
- Convectors - the transfer of thermal energy into the room occurs by heating the air, and it already transfers it to all surrounding objects. Such heating devices have copper (less often steel) tubes surrounded by finned heat exchangers. The air entering the heat exchanger is heated by its plates and rises, giving way to cooler air. In order for air exchange to be effective, the entire convector structure is placed in a special casing.
In modern systems, another heating method such as “warm floor” or “warm floor” is widely used. warm walls”, which are essentially a large radiator that transfers the “lion’s share” of heat in the form of radiation, and this increases comfort and allows you to reduce the air temperature in the room by about 2 degrees, which leads to fuel savings of about 12%.
Types of heating radiators
In the heating system of a two-story house, completely different heating systems can be used, depending on the tasks being solved, the area of the room, design data, and preferences. Radiators can be divided into several types:
- Cast iron sectional radiators are the ones we are used to seeing in apartments and houses old building. They have a large mass and high thermal inertia, but are undemanding to the quality of the coolant, are not subject to corrosion, and have high heat transfer. Such radiators fit perfectly into any interior, especially classic ones.
Cast iron sectional radiators - timeless classics - Aluminum sectional radiators – great choice for autonomous heating systems, but they are more sensitive to the quality of the coolant and do not tolerate direct contact with copper pipes. Such radiators fit perfectly into any interior.
- Bimetallic sectional radiators are a combination of steel or copper tubes, through which the coolant circulates and the aluminum surface transfers heat into the room. Such radiators are undemanding to the coolant, can withstand high operating pressure, and are practically indistinguishable from aluminum in appearance.
- Steel is a one-piece structure made of stamped and welded sheet steel. Such radiators have only two threaded connections to the heating system, which increases their reliability. High heat transfer, low weight, low inertia, aesthetic appearance, - all this has made them the most popular in autonomous closed heating systems for houses.
In addition to the listed models, manufacturers also produce various designer models, which include solid cast iron, tubular steel and even ceramic. The high price of these devices is explained by the fact that design ambitions in them prevail over engineering rationality.
Prices for popular models of heating radiators
Heating radiators
Heating schemes for a two-story house
The number of implementations of a heating system for a two-story house is infinite, since it depends on many factors: the size of the house, the availability of uninterrupted power supply, the constancy of people living in the house, etc. Therefore, it would be reasonable to consider several standard schemes which have proven their effectiveness.
Heating scheme for a house with natural circulation
The name of such a system speaks for itself - the circulation of coolant in the heating system occurs due to natural processes. The operation of such a system can be seen in the figure.
Water heated in the boiler heat exchanger decreases in density and is displaced by colder and denser water from the return line. It is this difference in the weights of hot and chilled water that ensures circulation in the heating system. At the highest point of the riser hot water equipped expansion tank, which allows water to expand when heated, allows you to control the water level in the system and, if necessary, make replenishment. In addition, all the air that will inevitably be present in the system will exit into the expansion tank.
Distribution pipelines and return lines, also called beds, are always made on slopes to facilitate water circulation: the upper bed is to the radiators, and the bottom is to the boiler. In such a system, the boiler should be at the lowest point. Coolant is supplied to the radiators through hot water risers, and cooled water is discharged through return risers.
One of the implementation options two-pipe system heating of a two-story house with natural circulation is presented in the following diagram.
In this diagram, attention should be paid to the large number of pipelines and their high nominal diameter - dу. This is explained by the fact that in gravitational systems, in order to ensure coolant circulation, it is necessary to minimize resistance, and this is only possible in large-diameter pipes.
Natural circulation systems naturally have advantages:
- Independence from power supply - the heating system will work both in the complete absence of electricity and in the event of interruptions in its supply.
- Reliability and simplicity proven over many years of operation.
- The absence of pumps and the low circulation speed of the coolant make such a system silent.
Despite all the advantages, such systems are gradually becoming a thing of the past, as they no longer meet modern requirements for heating systems.
- Gravity systems are extremely material-intensive - large-diameter steel pipes are used for their installation.
- Installation of heating systems with steel pipes technologically complex and time consuming.
- Systems with natural circulation have limitations on the area of heated premises. According to experts, the total length of horizontal sections (beds) should not exceed 40 meters, and the total area 150 m2.
- High inertia - from the moment the system is started until all radiators warm up to the design temperature, it can take several hours.
- A large difference in supply and return temperatures can have a bad effect on the boiler heat exchanger.
- The coolant of gravity systems contains a large amount of dissolved oxygen, which affects the corrosion of pipes and radiators, so in such systems only cast iron or bimetallic radiators can be used.
Forced circulation heating systems
Almost all modern heating systems use only forced (artificial) coolant circulation, which provides significant advantages:
- The use of circulation pumps helps to heat any area with any number of floors in a building.
- The diameter of the pipes can be much smaller, since the pump allows the coolant to be pumped at a higher speed.
- The use of circulation pumps makes it possible to reduce the temperature in heating systems with the same heat transfer parameters of radiators, and this, in turn, allows the use of cheaper polymer and metal-plastic pipes.
- Possibility of both general and zonal adjustment in heating systems.
The disadvantages of forced circulation systems are:
- Dependence on electricity, which is easily solved by the availability of sources uninterruptible power supply or generators.
- The operating noise of the heating system is higher, but if calculated correctly, it is not audible to the human ear in heated rooms.
The circulation pump is usually installed into the heating system on the return line in front of the boiler, since this place has the lowest coolant temperature.
For forced circulation to work correctly, the selected pump model must meet the system parameters. There is a special calculation method key characteristics- productivity and generated pressure. In order not to bore the reader with formulas, we suggest using the built-in calculators.
Pump performance calculator
Two-story houses have gained great popularity throughout our country. They are valued not only for their comfort, but also for the rational use of land area and savings. building materials and relative ease of construction. At the same time, competently organizing the heating of a two-story home is not an easy task. There are subtleties and secrets here, without knowledge of which the house will be heated unevenly or ineffectively. Let's discuss the main heating systems that you can consider for a two-story home.
A feature of the heating system with natural circulation of a two-story house is the absence of a pump that creates pressure in the pipes. The movement of water is ensured by the laws of hydraulics and thermodynamics, for which the pipes are installed at a certain angle to each other at a given height. Although this system has slightly lower thermal efficiency, it is completely autonomous, that is, it does not depend on power supply and does not consume additional energy.
Heating with natural circulation of a two-story house can be performed using either a single-pipe or a two-pipe scheme. The advantages and disadvantages of these types are discussed in detail below. Here are a few features to keep in mind when organizing any kind of natural circulation:
- large diameter pipes will be required, otherwise the movement of water will be difficult;
- It is unacceptable to use expansion tanks closed type- this entails the creation of excess pressure and the system will no longer work by gravity;
- the highest point of the pipeline is chosen as the location of the expansion tank, while the boiler is located below, most often slightly below the return line.
When installing a system with natural circulation in a two-story house, a significant overconsumption of materials and a decrease in heat transfer are inevitable. Such difficulties are justified only in one case - when the risk of power outages during the cold season is too great.
Single-pipe heating systems
A two-story house is understood as a complex of radiators that use the same line to receive hot coolant and discharge cooled coolant. This allows significant savings on materials, but entails a number of disadvantages:
- increased boiler power is required;
- the temperature of the water in the lines consistently decreases from radiator to radiator;
- each subsequent radiator must have more sections than the previous one (which is a consequence of the previous point).
Thus, the implementation of single-pipe schemes makes sense only in regions with a relatively mild climate for heating small houses.
Heating "Leningradka"
As you might guess, this heating scheme was developed in the Soviet Union and was widely implemented in small buildings in the northern capital. The basis of the “Leningradka” is one common highway running along the perimeter of the premises below the level of installation of radiators. The pipes cut into it from above, and to redirect the coolant flow, a pipe is narrowed under each radiator or a control valve is installed.
Both natural and forced circulation are possible. In the first case, it is recommended to install no more than four radiators, in the second - no more than six. Connecting seven to eight radiators is possible only after precise engineering calculations, with more heat consumers, the system is considered inefficient.
Alternative types of single-pipe heating
A further evolution of the “Leningradka” can be considered systems with breaks in the main line and sub-radiator constrictions, which act as “bottlenecks”, redirecting the flow of liquid. This allows you to simplify the main line, getting rid of narrowings and valves, and also to locate radiators away from the area where the main pipes are laid. With sufficient power of the injection pump in forced circulation cycles, a slight increase in the heated areas is possible.
Two-pipe heating
It has found application in large two-story houses, as it has significantly lower heat loss from radiator to radiator. The structure of the system includes two main lines: hot and cold. In the first, the heated liquid is supplied to heat consumers, in the second, the cooled coolant is discharged. In this case, the highways do not have any direct connection with each other.
On a separate primary branch of the hot main, it is significantly higher than the pipelines. Closed models are usually selected. Valves can be installed in front of radiators, allowing you to selectively turn off individual rooms from heating, but closing too many valves can lead to excess pressure and leaks, especially in systems with forced circulation and with incorrect thermal calculations.
Dead-end circuit and Tichelman loop
Initially all systems two-pipe heating worked according to a direct dead-end scheme. This meant that the radiator, which was the first to receive hot coolant, was the first to release cooled coolant, which entailed a consistent loss of pressure in the radiators and a decrease in their efficiency. Although not as significant as with a single-pipe arrangement. The dead-end circuit is still used for heating small buildings, since it requires significantly less material consumption during installation and is not so demanding on pump power.
A solution to the problem of pressure drop was proposed by engineer Albert Tichelman. He developed a reversible coolant return system, or, more simply, a return loop. Thus, the radiator that was the first to receive coolant was the last to discharge it, and the last installed radiator I drained the cooled liquid earlier than the others. At the same time, of course, the length of the return line doubled. The dead-end circuit is well suited for heating a two-story house.
Beam scheme
Another branch of the evolution of a dead-end heating system was the so-called radial scheme. It assumes the presence of an additional unit - a distribution manifold. It is necessary for dividing the primary and return lines to each radiator separately, which ensures the circulation of liquid with equal temperature and equal pressure in all elements of the system.
Further Complication heating system Compared to dead-end and loop-type schemes, it led to even greater consumption of pipes when laying mains. However, it pays off in high efficiency. The requirements for the expansion tank and injection pump are the same as in the “Tichelman loop”.
Heating with heated floors
The main feature of underfloor heating is the installation of one large but low-power “radiator” in the underground space, instead of using a system of standard wall-mounted radiators. This ensures more uniform heat distribution, increases indoor comfort and, with proper implementation of the system, reduces energy costs. However, heated floors are not without their drawbacks. These include:
- long time to warm up a completely cooled room;
- the possibility of condensation due to almost complete isolation from external factors;
- complexity of calculation and installation of the system.
Recent studies have noted that, all other factors being equal, a room with a heated floor can be heated to a temperature 2ºC lower than a room with classical heating, and this will not affect human comfort in any way. This fact alone allows you to save up to 10-15% energy.
Today, quite often, heated floors are used for heating a two-story house. The system can act as the main one, but for this it is important to make all the thermal calculations.
Heating with gas boiler
Gas boilers are the main source of energy in most modern heating systems. They guarantee high performance at relatively low energy costs, are highly reliable and safe, of course, subject to all installation standards and regulations.
However, in recent years there has been a trend of constant growth in prices for natural gas, which will soon equate the unit costs of its purchase with the costs of maintaining an electric heating system. And two-story houses are most often built with large areas. As long as gas availability remains, we recommend heating your two-story house with a gas boiler.
Which heating scheme should I choose?
When choosing a specific type of heating system, you should be guided, first of all, by the characteristics of the building, pay attention to the availability of electricity and financial capabilities. If you have engineering documents, look at them, as a rule, all the necessary numbers are indicated. Otherwise, you will have to carry out all the measurements yourself. Minimum Required- floor area, room volume, thickness and material load-bearing walls and partitions.
After this, it is worth analyzing the climatic features of the region, cost and availability. various types energy. Based on these data, a primary selection of options for organizing heating is made, after which the planned costs for their acquisition and installation, as well as future maintenance, are calculated. Exactly economic indicators, both short-term and strategic, are decisive when choosing a specific type of heating.
If there are difficulties with finances, the availability of light is unstable, and the only energy source is coal, then perhaps you should look towards simple one-pipe heating systems. If there is gas, a stable supply of light and finances allow, then you can look towards two-pipe and radiant heating systems for a two-story house.
In order for water heating of a two-story house to be effective, reliable and convenient, it is necessary to choose the right type of system and pipe routing diagram, taking into account all the design features of the building. Very often, a two-pipe heating system for a two-story house is chosen; pipe layouts and methods of ensuring circulation can be very different. Therefore, below we will look at the most common of them, their features, advantages and disadvantages.
Types of two-pipe systems of a two-story house
Before choosing one or another option for a two-pipe heating system for a two-story house, the pipe layout and the type of circulation, you need to find out what they can be.
Firstly, depending on the spatial location of the inlet and outlet lines, a two-pipe system, just like a one-pipe system, can be made according to two schemes:
- With horizontal wiring- when the main pipes on each floor form separate conditionally horizontal (subject to the required slopes) contours or loops;
- From vertical- when the supply of heated coolant to radiators at different levels and the removal of cooled fluid from them is carried out using vertical risers.
Schemes with horizontal wiring can also be divided into:
- Simple- with serial connection of radiators to the supply pipe and the return pipe;
- Beam or collector- when each radiator is connected separately using two pipes to a special distributor (comb, manifold). It can be separate for each floor, located in a niche or cabinet, or it can be common for the entire house, located in the boiler room.
Schemes with serial connection of radiators can be either with lower or upper distribution of the supply pipe. Collector or radial schemes, as a rule, involve lower pipe routing, and, very often, they are laid hidden, under the floor.
In addition, diagrams of two-pipe heating systems two-story houses may differ in the way the coolant circulates. Such circulation can be:
- Gravity or natural– when it is provided only by the difference specific gravity hot and cold coolant and the presence of slopes of main pipelines;
- Forced– when a special circulation pump (or pumps) is used for this purpose;
- Combined– when the system has the ability to work according to both schemes, depending on the circumstances.
Depending on the type of expansion tank and the method of creating excess pressure in the system, it can be:
- Open– when an open expansion tank is used, usually located under the ceiling on the second floor or in the attic, and the pressure in the system is determined only by the height of its placement. Often such a tank is also used as a central air collector (as in Fig. 1). This is possible if it is connected to the highest point of the supply pipe. If it is connected to the return pipe (for example, when installing a circulation pump on the “return”), then it is additionally necessary to install an air collector or air valve on the supply pipe;
- Closed– when a sealed membrane tank is used as an expansion tank. The excess pressure in such systems is calculated and is usually at 1.5 bar (0.15 MPa). Such a tank can be located anywhere on the supply or return line, but most often it is located near the boiler. A mandatory attribute of a closed system is the presence of a so-called “safety unit”, which includes safety and air valves and a pressure gauge, since there is a need to control excess fluid pressure and automatically release it if it increases above a set safe level.
An example of a closed heating system for a two-story house
The positive point is that in closed systems the access of air to the coolant during operation is closed, which reduces the corrosion of their elements, especially those made of “black” steel.
Having become familiar with the main types and features of two-pipe heating systems, we will consider some of the most common schemes that can be used for a private two-story house.
Schemes of a two-pipe heating system for a two-story house
Here we will look at several simple, most common two-pipe water heating schemes for a two-story house, which can be done with your own hands:
- with associated connection of radiators, which in turn can be with horizontal or vertical, upper or lower wiring;
- radial or collector.
Each of them has its own characteristics, its pros and cons, and can be either open or closed, with natural or forced circulation of the coolant.
Open, with parallel connection of radiators via horizontal top wiring and natural circulation
This scheme is simple and assumes the presence of two horizontal contours (loops) on each floor. At the same time, in order to maintain conditions for natural (gravitational) circulation of the coolant, the main pipes of the circuits, both supply and discharge (return), must be installed with a slope of 3-5. With the top distribution of the supply pipe, this is quite simple. Disadvantage: the supply pipes somewhat spoil the interior.
In addition, the use of an open expansion tank helps saturate the coolant with oxygen. And if water is used as a coolant, which happens most often, then this leads to corrosion of elements made of ordinary (“black”) steel.
Fig. 1 Diagram of an open two-pipe heating system for a two-story house with horizontal wiring and natural circulation
This option will be most suitable for a non-volatile solid fuel boiler when they want to achieve maximum autonomy and independence from the availability of electricity. For wiring according to this scheme, both metal (preferably) and plastic or metal-plastic pipes can be used. In the last two cases, it is necessary that the supply line (in this case the riser) at a distance of 1.5-2 m from the boiler be metal.
Open, with vertical distribution and combined circulation
In this scheme, radiators on different floors are connected using vertical risers. The system is designed so that it can operate with natural circulation, but a bypass with circulation pump and shut-off valves. Thus, the system has the ability to work with both forced and natural circulation.
Rice. 2 Scheme of two-pipe heating of a two-story house with vertical wiring and combined circulation
Closed, with horizontal bottom distribution and forced circulation
This scheme assumes use as an expansion, sealed membrane tank and the presence of excess pressure in the system (usually about 1.5 bar (atm.)). If an electric or gas boiler is used as a generator, which automatically turns off in the absence of electricity, then this option may be quite acceptable. The lower routing of the supply pipe allows it to fit more aesthetically into the interior of the room. In addition, with such wiring, pipes can be laid in a hidden way, for example, under the floor.
Rice. 3 Scheme of a closed two-pipe heating system for a two-story house with forced circulation
Closed beam (collector) with bottom wiring
This is another two-pipe option, which differs in that each radiator is connected separately, using special distribution combs - manifolds. Such distributors are usually mounted separately for each floor, in niches or other accessible but inconspicuous places. It is also possible to place the collector for the whole house in the boiler room or basement. But this will require the consumption of an additional number of pipes, which is already one of the main disadvantages of such schemes. But, on the other hand, they allow you to most conveniently regulate the heat supply to each radiator and distribute heat most evenly throughout the house. When using a collector wiring diagram for a heating system, most often the pipes are laid in a hidden way, under the floor or in niches.
Rice. 4 Scheme of a collector (radiant) heating system for a two-story house
Optimal scheme heating system for a 2-story private house is selected taking into account many factors: efficiency, cost and complexity of installation, availability of reliable power supply and frequency of use. In addition, projects of water heating systems must take into account a number of personal requirements of the customer for the interior design of rooms, which not every type of pipe layout and heating devices can satisfy.
Possible options
To choose the right wiring method, it makes sense to take existing schemes heating systems suitable for houses with two floors, and analyze the pros and cons of each of them. The following options are most often considered and implemented:
- single-pipe horizontal circuit (“Leningradka”);
- single-pipe heating system for a two-story house with vertical risers and natural coolant movement;
- two-pipe dead-end circuit with branches of equal length or ring passing system with circulation pump;
- collector heating circuit for a two-story house with forced water circulation;
- water heated floors;
- baseboard heating, also two-pipe.
Wiring options that include the installation of radiators can be as follows: open type(communicating with the atmosphere) and closed type (working with excess pressure). Homeowners who want to provide water heating for household needs should know that the heating circuit of a two-story house with a double-circuit heat generator does not differ from the wiring connected to a conventional boiler with 1 circuit. The difference lies in operation: any heating system of a two-story house with a double-circuit boiler heats water for radiators and hot water supply alternately. When the hot water tap is opened, heating of the coolant stops and the unit completely switches to DHW.
One highway: pros and cons
A single-pipe heating system for a two-story house - the Leningradka scheme - consists of one main line laid horizontally along the perimeter of the building, above the floor of each floor. Heating devices are connected to the main line at 2 ends, alternately. This type of heating network is well suited for houses where two floors occupy small area(up to 80 m² each). There are reasons for this:
- The coolant entering each subsequent radiator has more and more low temperature due to the mixing of cooled water from previous batteries. Therefore, the length of the ring is limited to 4-5 heating devices.
- In order to properly heat the second floor and the rooms where the last radiators are located, their heat output should be increased by adding sections.
- The horizontal network of a two-story house with natural circulation should be made with a large slope (up to 1 cm per 1 m running pipe). The boiler is placed in a recess, and in the attic there is an expansion tank communicating with the atmosphere.
The Leningrad heating distribution of a two-story house with forced supply of coolant works much more stable and efficiently than by gravity. For natural circulation in a private house, it is better to make vertical risers that penetrate the ceilings and distribute heat to radiators near the windows. Water is supplied to the risers from a horizontal collector laid in attic, return to the boiler - along the same line running above the floor of the 1st floor.
As in the first case, an open expansion tank is placed in the attic of a 2-story cottage, and the mains are laid with a slope. If the heating system is closed, then minimal slopes are required (3 mm per linear meter of pipe), and the membrane tank is placed in the boiler room.
Single-pipe heating distribution for a two-story house, although inexpensive to install, is complex in calculation and execution.
And not every owner will like it when large-diameter pipelines run through some of the premises; they have to be hidden under boxes.
The optimal solution is 2 highways
The good thing about a two-pipe heating system for a two-story house is that the coolant is directed to the heating devices through one pipe and returned through another. In private housing construction, 3 types of such systems are used:
- dead-end, in which the coolant reaches the last battery and flows back, the flows move towards each other;
- passing, where the supply and return flows flow in 1 direction, and the circuit is a closed ring;
- collector, different individual submission heated water to each radiator from the distribution manifold.
It is not difficult to do all two-pipe water heating schemes for a 2-story private house with your own hands, this is their advantage. If the architecture of the building is not too complex and the area does not exceed 300 m², then a pipeline network can be assembled without preliminary calculations. The supply from the boiler is made with a pipe of 25-32 mm, branches - 20-25 mm, and connections - 16 mm. It is understood that the coolant is stimulated to move by the pump. No one will like gravity-fed heating of a two-story house, when two large pipes run through all the rooms.
The dead-end and associated schemes are similar in installation, and when installing a collector system, the pipelines will have to be laid directly to the batteries in the floor. This is an option for developers who have high requirements for the interiors of premises, since pipes will not be visible on the walls of the rooms. It can also be implemented in a private house with your own hands, although the equipment and materials will cost more than with a dead-end scheme.
When installing a dead-end system, it is important to divide all radiators installed in a two-story house equally into groups in order to extend branches of the same length to them. It is customary to do this: 2 branches on the 1st floor, two more on the second, supplying the coolant upward - directly from the boiler through the riser. The associated scheme is implemented differently: the supply pipeline is laid horizontally from the first to the last device, and the return pipeline starts from the first and is directed to the boiler, collecting cooled water from all batteries. Thus, a ring is formed around the perimeter of the house, serving all radiators.
Two-pipe systems share common advantages:
- supplying coolant with the same temperature to all heating devices;
- reliability in operation;
- ease of balancing, especially in the associated direction;
- the ability to effectively control heating operation using various automation;
- ease of installation, done by yourself.
Heating floor and baseboard
Pipes with hot water, laid in the floor with a calculated step, allow you to evenly heat the premises over the entire surface flooring. From each heating circuit, whose length does not exceed 100 m, the connections converge to a manifold with a mixing unit, which provides the required coolant flow and its temperature within +35°...+45°C (maximum +55°C). The collector is powered directly from the boiler by one branch and controls heating on 2 floors simultaneously. Positive aspects heated floor:
- uniform heating of the room space;
- heating is comfortable for people, since heating comes from below;
- low water temperature allows you to save up to 15% on energy;
- Any level of system automation is possible - operation from thermostats, weather sensors, or according to the program embedded in the controller;
- the system with a controller can be controlled remotely - via GSM communication or the Internet.
Similar automatic control systems are being introduced into the collector circuit two-story cottage. Flaw heated floors- high cost of materials and installation work that are difficult to do on your own.
Heating baseboards - suitable option for any private house, not just a two-story one. These heating devices in the form of large baseboards are copper or aluminum convectors connected using a two-pipe circuit. They surround the premises along the perimeter, heating the air from all sides. Baseboard heating is easy to install and satisfies any interior design requirements.